P olitics D uring the Civil War

1. Politics During the Civil War

2. What you need to know • CSA – British relations • Trent Affair • Emancipation Proclamation • Suspension of habeas corpus • Conscription laws • Draft Riots

3. The CSA and the UK • CSA needed help from Europe • CSA much poorer and less equipped than north for long war • $ from “King Cotton” would force Europe to recognize CSA • Main hope for CSA was Britain

4. Slavery in Europe • British Empire outlawed slave trade in 1807 & slavery in 1837 • France banned slavery in 1814 • Most of Europe banned slavery in 1815

5. British recognition • Brits had stockpiled cotton – knew wartime supply would be low • Got cotton from Egypt & India instead • 1860s famine – Brits needed US corn & wheat more than CSA cotton

6. Trent Affair • 2 CSA officials on merchant ship HMS Trent headed to UK • US stopped ship to arrest CSA officials, angered Brits

7. Trent Affair • Brits sent troops to Canada to threaten invasion of US • Lincoln apologized – he didn’t want 2 wars at the same time • Had CSA officials released

8. Emancipation of slaves • Abolitionism had grown in north since war started • Lincoln much more focused on keeping union together • Slavery distant concern to him

9. Lincoln & southern slavery • CSA had been using slaves for military support • US had the right to free slaves in south – take away ability to fight • Many Brits were for emancipation • Freeing southern slaves might keep Brits from helping CSA

10. Emancipation Proclamation • Effective January 1, 1863 • Freed slaves in CSA territory • Did not free slaves in the 5 slave states that didn’t secede • MO, KY, WV, MD, DE • No actual effect, only symbolism

11. Public opinion of EP • Huge support in Britain • Ensured Brits wouldn’t help CSA • Free blacks in US became able to join army & help • N Democrats & soldiers thought it would drag war out

12. Reaction to EP in CSA • Southerners were outraged • War became struggle to protect their way of life • Fought harder, more brutally

13. Northern attacks on USA • Baltimore – crowd had attacked US army on way to Fort Sumter • Lincoln’s response – suspended writ of habeas corpus

14. Writ of habeas corpus • Law that says government has to justify why a prisoner is held • Can’t just jail someone without bringing up charges on him/her

15. Lincoln’s crackdown • Government took over many telegraph offices • Supreme Courtruled that Lincoln didn’t have right to suspend habeas corpus • Lincoln ignored the ruling

16. Copperheads • Northern people who wanted peace with the south • Many were rounded up and imprisoned without trials

17. Conscription • Drafting citizens to army duty • Both CSA & US used the draft • CSA – all able-bodied men 18-35 • Except men who could pay for a substitute or had >20 slaves “Rich man’s war, poor man’s fight”

18. Union draft law • White men 20-45 for 3 years • Men could pay for substitutes • Or just pay $300 to avoid draft • Few US soldiers drafted – almost all (92%) were volunteers

19. Draft Riots • Poor in northern cities didn’t want draft • They were scared of what would happen if slaves were freed • Blacks might come north for jobs

20. Draft Riots • Poor draftees rioted in NYC • Targeted rich who could pay to avoid service • US troops stopped riots, killed more than 100 people

21. What you need to know • CSA – British relations • Trent Affair • Emancipation Proclamation • Suspension of habeas corpus • Conscription laws • Draft Riots

22. Homework • Read Chapter 11, Section 4 (pages 357-365) • Reading quiz tomorrow